Month: May 2011

Une Visit Avec Une Souris

A bit over a week ago we (the 5 of us + Susan’s parents) rode the train up to the Marne-la-vallée station, about 40km outside of Paris. It’s a town that was supposedly mostly beet farms up until about 20 years ago, when the village’s most famous resident moved in- Mickey Mouse.

Neither our kids, nor Susan, nor her parents had ever been to any of the Kingdoms-of-Disney – so it was a first for everyone but me.

There’s not much that I have to say about it – if you’ve been there (especially with small kids) you know what it’s like – and if you haven’t – there isn’t much I can do to explain it.

It was a really good weekend- the weather was OK (a bit cool and rainy – but it never actually rained – so that was nice). We had a great time.

Not something we’ll make a habit of – but was definitely worth it. Especially when you discover that on www.disneylandparis.com when they ask you in what language you want to read the site- they are going to give you different prices. And if you say Ile-de-France (Paris area) you can pre-buy at even better prices – so you can get tickets for €30 intsead of €60 at the gate. That makes Disneyland Paris just barely more expensive than a day at Calaway Park or West Edmonton Mall. Not too bad.

If you note from the pictures – the kids were pretty much grinning from ear to ear all day long. There were a LOT of smiles. Our kids loved it – and I was really reminded of how thankful I am that we have the opportunity to do things like this – as I know for most of the kids on this planet, a day like that would be so far out of their reach.

A bit over a week ago we (the 5 of us + Susan’s parents) rode the train up to the Marne-la-vallée station, about 40km outside of Paris. It’s a town that was supposedly mostly beet farms up until about 20 years ago, when the village’s most famous resident moved in- Mickey Mouse.

Neither our kids, nor Susan, nor her parents had ever been to any of the Kingdoms-of-Disney – so it was a first for everyone but me.

There’s not much that I have to say about it – if you’ve been there (especially with small kids) you know what it’s like – and if you haven’t – there isn’t much I can do to explain it.

It was a really good weekend- the weather was OK (a bit cool and rainy – but it never actually rained – so that was nice). We had a great time.

Not something we’ll make a habit of – but was definitely worth it. Especially when you discover that on www.disneylandparis.com when they ask you in what language you want to read the site- they are going to give you different prices. And if you say Ile-de-France (Paris area) you can pre-buy at even better prices – so you can get tickets for €30 intsead of €60 at the gate. That makes Disneyland Paris just barely more expensive than a day at Calaway Park or West Edmonton Mall. Not too bad.

If you note from the pictures – the kids were pretty much grinning from ear to ear all day long. There were a LOT of smiles. Our kids loved it – and I was really reminded of how thankful I am that we have the opportunity to do things like this – as I know for most of the kids on this planet, a day like that would be so far out of their reach.

Just in the Neighbourhood

It’s not so often that we have guests from North America who drop by because they are just passing through, but last weekend my sister Marie stopped by on her way to Israel.

We had a great – but short- visit with her. The weather was beautiful (warmer here than in Jerusalem) and we took her to a few local sites -and had a chance to catch up a bit.

We managed to squeeze in a visit to the Chateau de Vizille, the Musée de la Revolution Française, rode les boulles (literally: bubbles – the round plastic gondola cars from the city up to the fort of la Bastille) la Musée des Troupes de la Montagne, hiked down the hill, went to the Musée archéologiqu de Saint Laurent, got fresh milk and cheese from the farm…and a bunch more.